56 Simple Ways to Live Just a Little Bit Greener

April 22, 2009

Last week I held the Living Greener and Healthier Giveaway and you guys submitted so many AWESOME ideas. With a 148 comments and counting I thought it would be a good idea to summarize all of your awesome tips. I have to admit I’m totally inspired to take on some of these suggestion and make them habits especially with today being Earth Day and all. :)

1. Collect Recyclables at work.
2. Reuse glass and plastic jars you purchase products in for storage or decorative pieces.
3. Bring your own reusable coffee travel cups to the coffee shop.
4. Buy your coworkers reusable mugs and classes and have the office ditch the styrofoam.
5. Replace paper towels at home with reusable rags.
6. Bring canvas bags when you go shopping.
7. Compost.
8. Walk more.
9. Ditch the plastic water bottles and get a reusable one.
10. Reuse paper products (like toilet paper rolls) for arts and crafts.
11. Use Bio Bags for your pet’s you know what. ;)
12. Use covers or upside down plates when storing food in the fridge instead of plastic wrap.
13. Reuse the plastic containers food comes in (like yogurt) to store your own leftovers.
14. Make you’re own cleaner with a bit of water, vinegar, baking soda and dish soap.
15. Keep your heat as low as possible (you own blankets, right?)
16. Open a window before turning on the AC.
17. Shorten your shower.
18. Use microfiber clothes as a Paper towel replacement.
19. Buy local at farm stands and farmers markets.
20. Buy at Goodwill!
21. Don’t throw away anything before checking FreeCycle.
22. Catch Rain water in pots to water the house plants.
23. Use half a dryer sheet.
24. Use reusable containers instead of baggies in lunch boxes.
25. Buy bulk.
26. Garden!
27. See trash? Pick it up!
28. Volunteer!
29. Make cloth sandwich bags.
30. Eat more vegetarian meals.
31. Can your own fruits and veggies.
32. Carpool.
33. Bring your own silverware to work.
34. Use a reusable lunch box.
35. Ditch plastic freezer bags and go with reusable containers.
36. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
37. Buy concentrated laundry detergent.
38. Hang your clothes instead of using the dryer.
39. Buy energy efficient light bulbs.
40. Pay your bills online.
41. Go with a tankless hot water heater.
42. Print two sided or not at all.
43. Save memos, drafts and bad prints as scrap paper.
44. Eat out less.
45. Use used coffee grounds as fertilizer.
46. Place a brick in your toilet take to use less water.
47. Only wash clothes in cold water.
48. Never run your dishwasher if it’s not full.
49. Have cats? Try green kitty liter.
50. Bring your own tupperware for leftovers at a restaurant. GENIUS!
51. Turn off all lights if you aren’t in the room.
52. Shut down your computer for the night.
53. Recycle junk mail.
54. Freeze leftovers.
55. Use yogurt and pudding cups for crafts or seedlings.
56. Remember… Reducing is better than reusing, reusing is better than recycling, recycling is better than throwing it in the trash.

Awesome ideas! Right!?

Now… For you guys with even greater, BIGGER and better ideas for making a green impact, SunChips and National Geographic want to give you chance to make it happen. Submit your idea to the Green Effect Contest. The five best will receive $20,000 to help make the idea a reality. The winners will be profiled in National Geographic magazine and will travel to Washington, DC to share the project with environmental leaders. How cool is that?!?

For me? Right now. I’ll be going down my 57 item check list. The toddler and I are off to plant our first seedlings. :~)

Posted in Contests, Just Tips